BUT – I got to lead a puppet workshop and, luckily, the basketball world stayed semi-sane.
Monday
Unfazed by being the only ranked team playing on Monday, #24 Michigan took care of business against winless Detroit Mercy.
Of interest was Rutgers being Rutgers in their 54-43 win over Virginia.
Don’t look now, but Ball State moved to 7-0 with their win over Purdue (first time since 1979)
Don’t look now, but Clemson is at 7-2.
Tuesday, the usual suspects did their usual stomping.
Of interest, Big Green moves to 6-1 with their win over New Hampshire.
Yup, that’s the Tribe, moving to 8-1.
North Texas was feisty, but lost to Indiana, 68-63.
Utah stomps Pepperdine and moves to 7-1.
UT Rio Grand takes care of business agains North Dakota, 82-79, and now sit at 9-2.
Wednesday
Take no prisoners by the usual suspects.
- #3 Notre Dame by 31.
- #11 Tennessee by 62.
- #12 Ohio State by 26.
- #15 Maryland by 40.
- #21 Texas A&M by 13.
- #22 Villanova by 29.
- #23 Green Bay (WOOT, they’re ranked!UConn remains No. 1 in AP Top 25 after passing test from Notre Dame) by 9.
Interesting to see BYU lose to Utah State. Ends a 39-year drought for the Aggies.
Penn State roared back in the fourth to escape Fordham, 65-60.
Mercer came out in the first firing on all cylinders, cruising to a 61-44 win over George Washington.
Navy’s still undefeated AND Delaware took down Army.
Well now. Nebraska gave Kansas their first loss, 66-49.
Yah, Oklahoma’s in trouble. The Wabbits whomped them, 67-61.
Look at the Omaha Mavericks move to 7-2!
In state rivalries rule: Iowa over Iowa State by 6 and Colorado over Colorado State by 3.
Listen up! In The Heart of Texas: LaChina Robinson breaks down UConn’s come from behind win over Notre Dame in the Jimmy V Classic and welcomes No.2 Texas head coach Karen Aston to the show. (Love, LaChina but honestly, can’t we get you some better mics? You sound like you’re broadcasting with a tin can.)
Take note: Lobos look to set new record, face Texas Tech at home *narrator* They did.
City Paper: The Duquesne women’s basketball program is looking to take a big step toward the big time
Knoxville Sentinel: Lady Vols’ Meme Jackson trying to be better about consistency
No surprise: Kelsey Mitchell becomes Ohio State women’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer
Ditto: Florida State’s Shakayla Thomas named espnW player of the week
In a week with a lot of intriguing games — including another UConn-Notre Dame grudge match and a quadruple-overtime marathon between Creighton and Drake — there were plenty of terrific performances. Shakayla Thomas’ stood out — earning our espnW national player of the week honors — because of her ability to put No. 13 Florida State on her back and then take it to the finish line in two challenging road games.
Sweet: Katelynn Flaherty an all-time great for Michigan women’s basketball
One day, maybe a decade ago, Katelynn Flaherty and her dad Tom were driving around near their Point Pleasant Beach home when they came across a park with an empty basketball court.
“We said, ‘That’s the place to go,’” Tom Flaherty said. “We put up nets and we’d play there from April to November.”
Other top players from Hoops America, the Red Bank gym where Katelynn trained, would start coming around. Soon Orchard Park became the place to be.
Cool:20 questions: Dawn Staley is leading by example, and Eli Manning’s riding the bench
Ouch: Kyra Lambert to redshirt for Duke after tearing knee ligament during NCAA tournament
Washington Post: For the WNBA, business isn’t as bad as it looks
The Nation: WNBA MVP Maya Moore Takes on the Criminal Justice System and Maya Moore Accepts Performer of the Year at Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards
Again: WNBA again earns top grades for gender and racial diversity
Hey, there: Lindsay Whalen fights nerves before season debut … with Timberwolves
News: Storm’s KeyArena to be Redeveloped
So… is the WBCBL the new NWBL? Marynell Meadors to Coach New WBCBL Team in Atlanta